- Address: Murillo, Tolima, Colombia
- Website: parquesnacionales.gov.co
- Area: 583 square meters. km
- Average altitude: 3960 m
- Date of foundation: 1973.
On the border of four departments of Colombia : Risaralda, Quindio, Caldas and Tolima, in the Central Cordillera region is the natural National Park Los Nevados. Among all 55 parks of the country, this reserve is the third largest in terms of attendance.
Description of the park
Los Nevados is located in the Andean mountains and covers an area of 583 sq. Km. km. The altitude difference here is 2600-5320 m. The park has eight volcanoes , the highest of which is Nevado del Ruiz - has a height of about 5300 m. It belongs to the Andean volcanic belt. In addition, in the territory of Los Nevados, there are several lakes that have a glacial origin. The largest of them - Santa Isabel - is spread over an area of 1.5 square meters. km, and its depth is about 70 m.
The air temperature in Los Nevados National Park can range from -3 ° C to + 14 ° C. Rainfall most often falls in April-May, and the driest are the seasons July-August and January-February, so tourists are advised to come here in the summer.
Fauna Los Nevados
Travelers who come to this high-mountainous park can see many interesting things here. In the rainforests and mountain meadows of Los Nevados, there are many species of birds and animals:
- parrots;
- hummingbird;
- synechal motif;
- colored black-eared tanagra;
- dwarfish Andean amazon;
- white-bellied possums;
- pumas;
- mountain tapirs;
- spectacled bears.
Park flora
In the Andean highlands, there are about a thousand different kinds of plants, mushrooms and mosses, including rare ones such as:
- freylekhon - giant tree-like shrubs with yellow flowers and gray-white hairy leaves;
- Kindioi wax palm, growing to 30 m.
What to do in Los Nevados?
Fans of outdoor activities can do in Los Nevados skiing from the high-mountainous slopes, as well as climbing the mountains. Trekking routes for jeep trips along mountain roads are laid in the national park. You can take part in competitions in paragliding, rafting, kayaking, climbing.
There are numerous hiking trails. You can familiarize yourself with the nature of Los Nevados National Park either independently or accompanied by a guide. During the excursions tourists get acquainted with the history of these places, which are still inhabited by such ethnic groups as tahamies, cathios, etc. The main occupation of the local population is cattle breeding, gold washing, floriculture, but more often people are engaged in growing coffee. Therefore, the territory of the park Los Nevados is sometimes called the "coffee zone".
You can relax from walks in small guest houses located in the park. Guests are accepted here for one night, and for a longer period.
How to get to Los Nevados?
The easiest way to get to the park is from the administrative center of the Caldas department - the city of Manizales . Here you can rent a car or even a bus and, after a distance of about 90 km, get to the park area of Los Nevados.